FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's Note: this Chapter will contain brief Nudity. You have been warned.

Credit is due to my friend Rain who helped me to figure out the way the tech works for the Virtual Dive.

After glancing at the virtual rig a bit longer I moved to go shower stripping out of my uniform as I walked. I had to admit it felt good to get out of those clothes though I tried to get them hanged up for tomorrow. I would have to wash them after I got done with the shower.

Once in the shower I lingered in the cold water. While I could have flipped the lever over to hot it would have been a waste of time as I would soon be back in cold water anyway due to the nature of the Virtual Drive. I'll explain more details before I enter the thing but suffice it to say an icy shower was an excellent way to prepare for what was to be ahead.

Once I was done and dried off I shivered from the cold but walked towards the virtual drive.

The inside was made of some type of synthetic foam that molded to my body. It was essential to remain sky-clad within.

I reached for the mask as the sounds of soft hissing filled my ears and a cold feeling like I had just plunged back into a bath of dry ice began to climb up my legs. As the cold water filled further the bits of algae that made this more like a terrarium also appeared. they would feed off the release of my CO2 and produce more of themselves while providing me with the essential oxygen I needed to survive underwater.

The other systems of the Drive came online some goggles being fitted to my head and a voice saying "_Drive System Powering On. System Capacity is 5000 Microliters of Oxygen. Current Capacity is 100/5000. _ The voice was decidedly female whether it was a choice of the AI itself or the default setting I confess that I did not know or care.

_"Initiating Neural Impulse Link Calibration" _I felt the strange sensation of something touching my mind and easing over it like a helmet. a brief shock of cold at the base of neck as something metal was pressed there.

The sensation repeated several times along my body particularly at the ends of my joints like my elbows or knees. "Neural Frame Work Has Been Established." a few more moments before the next words reached my ears and I felt the sensation of being bonded to the pod. _"Framework Connection Established. Connection Strength Is 100%." _

Awaiting User Input _ "Finally" _I thought to myself before focusing my thoughts. _Loading Program Lycera _I couldn't deny my excitement as the words _Game Start! _appeared in my vision and my mind got pulled into the game world.

I fell down a tunnel of colors and while there was no supplied sound it still felt as if it took a very long time. When I landed while I felt the shock of impact I was quick to realize that I was unharmed.

The shifting colors around me resolved themselves into the form of a Grand Library books to the ceiling as far as the eye can see. Phasing into existence from nothing about 5 feet in front of me on a vacant stool sat a Lady Dressed In the traditional ball gown pale blue in color.

"Welcome Adventurer to Lycera. Please have a seat." I nodded to her and chose a seat on the other side of the table facing her. "Do you need a moment to adjust?" she asked of me her voice pleasing sounding as if it were composed of wind chimes. Unsure of how my voice would be working since in the back of my mind I knew I was floating in water I attempted to reply that I was fine but my voice did not come out. I touched my throat in alarm. "Just Nod or Shake your head. Until you finalize your character your voice will not work."

I quickly nodded doing my best to calm down though I new my heart rate had temporarily sped up from the realization that I couldn't speak. A small timer like device appeared in front of me. "Tap that once your ready to continue." she informed me and I nodded once more focusing on my breathing and shoving my anxiety back into it's box. Then I stomped on it and chained said box shut and added a few locks for extra measure. _It's just a game. Relax. Your Safe. _I told myself as the moments slowly filtered by.

Once I had ahold of myself I slapped the top of the timer device and the NPC smiled at me once more. "Well look at that it only took you 5 mins to get your crap together. At least your a speedy one." She said in a slightly mocking tone. Being I still could speak I just simply raised an eyebrow. Apparently my expression was just hilarious or maybe she had a few hits of laughing gas before she came here. At any rate her peals of laughter didn't really help my mood.

Eventually she subsided but I'm sure my resting bitch face was on full display. I've been told by other's that my expression can get quite cold if I'm trying to hide my irritation but it seemed I was able to pass this time. Or at least the AI's programing forced her to continue on the the character creation process.

Panels filled my vision labeled with what appeared to be different sliders and Selections. "Design your Avatar." said the Lady and while I had to admit some of the choices were quite embarrassing to select in front of a Lady I managed to fly through the process.

In the end I had chosen my Race as Human and as for my starter class I am a Mage. I had looked for Healer but it was not on the list of initial options. So I just had to assume that it would be unlocked as I proceeded further down the magic skill tree.

"So Initiate Nakishodo you will be sent to the starting town of Revere." said the Lady before waving her hand and I found myself vanishing in a flash of light. When my vision came back to me I was standing in the square of the aforementioned town.

I admit it was weird being called Initiate but I suppose that's the term for starter players in this game. A Guard was standing at attention his weapon half drawn. I suppose my sudden appearance from seemingly thin air might have to be blamed for that.

"Sir could you tell me where I might find Lodging for the night?" I asked of him. He raised an eyebrow at me and I had to guess that in dealing with players in this world getting a polite question asked was something of a rarity. I waited patiently as the proverbial gears turned in his head as he decided what to do with this request.

"Go behind me past the fountain to the left and you will find a blue wooded building called Mariner's Rest. Mention that Steve sent ya." he said to me and after a bow of thanks I moved to follow his directions.

_"Mariner's Rest. Sounds...Sailor themed. I wonder what I'll find?" _ I thought to myself as I walked along. I had yet to distribute my basic stat points and I was still wearing the simple brown robe that denoted me as a noob mage. I had read that upon specializing you would get a robe of a particular color that would boost the spells cast of it's particular elemental association.

Which if I am being honest felt like a double edged sword. For one it called out to all the world what you were good at. For two it might give you an advantage if your specialty was unusual or could be mistaken for something else at first glance.

As part of their cunning the company that made the game DID sell dyes. Because of course they did. All your problems could be solved for the easy price of $0.99. While yes that was cheap and they could have gotten more greedy as far as I was aware unless you ran into a rare boss or found a way to make the pigment's yourself there was no way to earn dye in game.

I mean I get why monetization in games is a thing. I know they are expensive to make and while the developers need to be paid for their work and deserve it with the amount of hours they put in...coporate entites can get quite greedy when it comes to selling in game content.

_Let's just hope this doesn't turn into a pay to win game. Where they make a problem on purpose then sell the only solution. _ I thought to myself as I made it to the entrance of the Mariner's Rest.

Calling this place merely blue seemed like it was insulting the color. So many hues of Blue that decorated the exterior mixed here and there with a lush deep purple. It was as if someone had took the color chart on a fathoms graph and put it on a building. However the painter must have been a master. It looked quite beautiful and it seemed to give off a faint fragrance of the sea.

I managed to pull my gaze off the building interior when from inside someone called "Are you lost?" I snapped to my senses and then moved inside stepping through the classical double saloon style doors. "I'm seeking Lodging for tonight Miss." I replied as the lady that had spoken to me came into view. She had a name tag floating above her head. "I'm sorry Miss Coral." I quickly corrected myself. She eyed me up and down with a critical eye while I took the time to observe her dress.

She was wearing what seemed to be a corsair's uniform done in the same color scheme as outside the buttons shining like little blue and purple pearls while on her head was the traditional tricorn hat. She was also wearing a saber and her blonde hair was braided and the tail of it laid across the very tip of her right shoulder.

Call me a sucker for details but the package as a whole was appealing. At least until her next words rang out. "Are you sure you came to the right place? We aren't much for charity here."

"One of the guards...I believe he said his name was Steve said to tell you he sent me." I replied in response and promptly got a quest prompt shoved under my nose.

Quest Name: Room For The Night

_Difficulty : E _

_Information : You've successfully located the Inn known as Mariner's Rest. The Owner Of The Inn Ms. Coral wishes for you to prove your worth before granting you a room to stay in.

Objective: Impress Ms. Coral

Rewards: 1 week stay at the Inn. Further Rewards May Be Granted If Ms. Coral Deems You Worthy._

Accept? : Y/N

"Yes" I replied and the window in front of me vanished. Ms. Coral straightened up from her examination. "Follow me." she barked and then turned around to leave me scrambling after her. I was lead to the back kitchen area were what looked like millions of dirty dishes were piled up. "Get those 4 stacks clean and you'll have earned your keep. But if I find a single speck of dirt on them after you finish or a chip or a crack you'll be out on your butt in the street."

I did a bit of poking around and managed to procure a bar of old timey soap. It even smelled like it had been made the old fashioned way. I admit I was thinking it would have been liquid soap. I know I know. Curse my Modern thinking. Especially since while this world clearly had electricity it was not exactly the real world.

I turned my mind and focus to the stack of dishes. Though I had no clear source of water. "_Hmmmm" _I thought puzzling it over before deciding to check my inventory in the vague hope that due to the game system having the hunger and thirst systems that I'd have a basic water skin.

There was a starter pack which manifested itself as a red and gold gift box tied with a purple ribbon. I untied the ribbon and the top popped off with confetti which thankfully vanished. A prompt all but slammed into my face.

You have opened the Basic Beginner Starter Park

You Have Obtained The Following Items:

Basic Beginner Mage's Robes level 1 x1

Basic Mage's Spellbook Level 1 x1

Basic Mage's Boots Level 1 x1

Adventure's Waterskin 1000/1000

Basic Rations x11

Level 5 Starter Pack x1

Basic Beginner Mage's Staff Level 1

Earrings Of Mana Level 1

Ring of Mana Replenishment Level 1

"Well at least they gave me the Basic B**** starter pack. Though judging on the level 5 starter pack seems they will be drip feeding me items little by little. Which either meant making my own items would be useless Or everything from the packs would be just standard generic gear for that level plus an extra potion or two.

I slipped on the ring and with a wince poked in the earrings. See unlike other games in this one if you wanted to wear something you had to put it on physically. So piercing your own ears for earrings or putting on a ring.

So if someone sliced off your fingers... or ears then you lost the benefit of whatever attached accessory. Yes Gruesome but effective. Made sure that players fought while protecting their extremities.

Anyway I'm off topic. I took some of the water until I had a decent amount and the waterskin now read 700/1000 and I grabbed the bar of soap and plugging the sink moved to start washing the dishes.

Of course I forgot...to think of clean water. After a few plates the water I was using was already turning black. "_ Crap _" I thought to myself and sighed in defeat then inspiration struck. I flicked open my skill window and then I grimaced as I took a second look.

"Ok so the skills are kind of like spells? At least some of them appear to be." I found myself wandering aloud. "Ok. Well I can work with this. I got 3 skill points to start." To many skills and the like to count or look through at this time. "Purification." I said aloud and the skill was covered in a blinking square.

You have chosen the skill Purification. Do You Wish To Spend A Skill Point To Unlock This Skill?_(3/3 Skill points remained) Y/N? _

"Yes." I replied and the system spent the point to unlock it.

Name: Purification Level 1** Description: You use Mana to Remove Any Impurities From Food and Drink In front of you in a 5 ft cube. This Includes Poison,Mold,Potions Of Any Kind (Even Beneficial Ones) The Food returned to it's neutral state as if it were just freshly prepared. Water will return to it's clear state if it was not already when this spell was cast. Any impurities will be removed. This Spell costs 20 MP. You may choose to fire any found impurities at a target of your choosing within 5 ft. This does not however cause any damage.**

"That's Good. I can easily work with that." I told myself with a small soft smile. I banished the skill window from my sight and pointed at the black water. "Purification!" and the water began to boil and froth before turning back to it's original clear state. My Mana dipped the 20 points but due to my accessories it was quickly ticking it's way back up.

A cube of floating impurities floated at my left shoulder and I looked about for a waste can. Finding a bucket that could due the job I sent it in there where it went with a disgusting splat. At least it didn't smell.